Abstract: A process is described for making acrylic acid from dextrose, which comprises fermenting dextrose; removing solids from the resulting fermentation broth; removing lactic acid from the clarified broth by extraction into an organic solvent; separating out the lactic acid-loaded organic solvent while recycling at least a portion of the remainder back to the fermentation step; reacting the lactic acid with ammonia to provide a dehydration feed comprising ammonium lactate while preferably recycling the organic solvent; carrying out a vapor phase dehydration of the ammonium lactate to produce a crude acrylic acid product; and purifying the crude acrylic acid by distillation followed by melt crystallization, chromatography or both melt crystallization and chromatography.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for differentiation into biocompatible keratocyte progenitor cells, the method including: providing human turbinate mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs) from a tissue source; and culturing the provided human turbinate mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs) in a keratocyte differentiation medium supplemented with keratocyte growth factor (KGF), so that a differentiable keratocyte precursor cell composition that is impossible in the conventional art can be implemented, and the injection of the keratocyte progenitor cell composition into patients can produce a short-term treatment effect while securing the transparency of the cornea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for evaluating coagulability of a blood specimen obtained from a subject to whom a substance having a coagulation factor VIII-substituting activity is administered. The present invention also relates to a reagent for blood coagulation analysis, a reagent kit for blood coagulation analysis, and an apparatus for blood coagulation analysis. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an apparatus and computer program for evaluating coagulability of a blood specimen.

Abstract: A method for investigating one or a plurality of phase objects is described, in which a grid made up of elements is used, which is illuminated with light of a light source, the coherence length of which is larger than the average spacing of adjacent elements of the grid. A diffraction image of the illuminating light scattered on the grid is generated, whereby the one or the plurality of phase objects are placed in the light path between the light source and the grid and/or in the light path of the illuminating light scattered on the grid. At least a part of the diffraction image is detected by an optical sensor directly or after interaction with further optical components and converted into a signal. The signal is analyzed further in order to ascertain information relating to the one or plurality of phase objects therefrom. A corresponding device is likewise described.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for processing biomass materials that are disposed in one or more structures or carriers, e.g., a bag, a shell, a net, a membrane, a mesh or any combination of these. Containing the material in this manner allows it to be readily added or removed at any point and in any sequence during processing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same, in methods for modulating the production and yield of milk and milk components in ruminants. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable components of milk in ruminants. Furthermore, the disclosure provides for methods of modulating the rumen microbiome.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions that include an extract of human feces, and methods for using such compositions, including methods for replacing or supplementing or modifying a subject's colon microbiota, and methods for treating a disease, pathological condition, and/or iatrogenic condition of the colon.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions that include an extract of human feces, and methods for using such compositions, including methods for replacing or supplementing or modifying a subject's colon microbiota, and methods for treating a disease, pathological condition, and/or iatrogenic condition of the colon.

Abstract: Embodiments of chemically defined cell culture media containing nutrients and growth factors free of any serum for culturing cells such as mesenchymal stem cells and methods of using embodiments of the cell culture medium for expanding cell populations such as mesenchymal stem cells while maintaining a pluripotent phenotype and methods of inducing chondrogenesis and osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells by admixing differentiation factors into embodiments of the cell culture medium.

Abstract: A method of obtaining stromal progenitor cells (SPC) from subcutaneous adipose tissue by incubation of a very small volume of the subcutaneous adipose tissue in an enzyme solution produces SPC that are usable in medical applications based on autologous SPC even on individuals having a body mass index lower than 18.5.

Abstract: Methods of making and using a magnetic ECM are disclosed. The ECM comprises positively and negatively charged nanoparticles, wherein one of said nanoparticles contains a magnetically responsive element. When the magnetic ECM is seeded with cells, the cells will be magnetized and can be levitated for 3-D cell culture.

Abstract: Non-genetically engineered mammalian cells modified by sortase-mediated conjugation of an agent thereto are provided. Methods of conjugating agents to nongenetically engineered mammalian cells using sortase are provided. Methods of using the cells, e.g. a method of modulating an immune response of a subject to an entity of interest, a method of neutralizing a substance in the body of a subject, a method of treating a subject in need of treatment for deficiency of a protein, and a method of treating a subject in need of treatment for a disease, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substance or method for preventing or treating mastitis in ruminant animals, particularly in dairy cows. Specifically provided are: a preventive or therapeutic agent, a feed additive, a feed, and a pharmaceutical composition for ruminant animal mastitis, characterized by comprising, as an active ingredient, a Bacillus genus bacterium having the property of being capable of increasing or maintaining CD11c+ CD172a+ blood dendritic cell gate 2 in cows.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions that include an extract of human feces, and methods for using such compositions, including methods for replacing or supplementing or modifying a subject's colon microbiota, and methods for treating a disease, pathological condition, and/or iatrogenic condition of the colon.

Abstract: Apparatuses and kits for the detection of ATP in a liquid sample are provided. The apparatuses and kits comprise a liquid reagent composition comprising luciferin and a sampling device having a sampling portion and a handling portion. The sampling portion comprises a fibrous or a foam material and is adapted to acquire and releasably retain a predetermined volume of a liquid sample or a sample of residue from a surface. The sampling device comprises a dry coating or a liquid coating, the coating including an effective amount of a pH-adjusting reagent that, when contacted with a liquid reagent composition having a pH 6.8 or lower, changes the pH of the liquid reagent composition to 6.9 or higher. Methods of use of the apparatus or kit are also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming an immune-tolerant site, and a method for attracting immunosuppressive cells, comprising contacting an agent comprising SEK-1005 (Ser, 3-hydroxy-N-[2-hydroxy-1-oxo-2-tetrahydro-2-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-(2-methylpropyl)-2H-pyran-2-yl-propyl]-Leu-Pip(hexahydro-3-pyridazinecarbonyl)-N-hydroxy-Ala-N-methyl-Phe-Pip-rho-lactone) and/or fibroblast growth factor (FGF) with a site in the body tissue.

Abstract: A method of producing nanobiocatalysts includes: suspending a support material in a liquid medium; functionalizing a surface of the support material by mixing the suspended support material with a functionalizer for a first predefined time at a first predefined temperature, wherein a first broth results; applying a protein directly in the first broth after the first predefined time; mixing the protein with the first broth and incubating the protein for a second predefined time at a second predefined temperature, wherein a second broth results; immobilizing the incubated protein onto the functionalized surface of the support material, wherein a third broth results; filtering the third broth; and gathering a retentate of the filtering. By directly processing the first and second broths allows for providing a continuous process and production of the nanobiocatalysts, which can be optimized regarding time, water, chemical and energy consumption. Also, problems related to thixotrophy can be minimized.

Abstract: A porous matrix suitable for use as a tissue scaffold is described. The matrix may be shaped before insertion into or at the target tissue site, or injected via a minimally invasive method. The matrix may be pre-seeded with cells of the target tissue or may be used to support growth of the local endogenous tissue. The matrix may contain growth factors or other pharmacologically acceptable moieties such as antibiotics.

Abstract: A formulation and process for capturing CO2 use an absorption mixture containing water, biocatalysts and a carbonate compound. The process includes contacting a CO2-containing gas with the absorption mixture to enable dissolution and transformation of CO2 into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, thereby producing a CO2-depleted gas and an ion-rich solution, followed by subjecting the ion-rich solution to desorption. The biocatalyst improves absorption of the mixture comprising carbonate compounds and the carbonate compound promotes release of the bicarbonate ions from the ion-rich solution during desorption, producing a CO2 gas stream and an ion-depleted solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to medicine and to veterinary medicine, and specifically to means for determining the sensitivity of various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, to antimicrobial substances. The method for determining the sensitivity of microorganisms to antimicrobial substances comprises taking biological material, incubating microorganisms contained therein on a nutrient medium, introducing an antimicrobial substance to be investigated into the nutrient medium and subsequently assessing the result. A dense, rich nutrient medium is used for cultivating the microorganisms. The antimicrobial substance being investigated is introduced into the nutrient medium prior to cultivation of the microorganisms in a concentration close to the maximum concentration achievable at the location at which the biological material is taken. The sensitivity of the microorganisms to the antimicrobial substance is assessed after the appearance of visible growth of microorganisms in a control culture.